Fabtech 6" Users - I want to know what it's like

[MattyG]

I originally wanted the long travel kit by Camburg or TC, but my mom is giving me her 97 TJ at the end of the year so I think I will make that my crawler. (Can't wait for the comments on this) I'm also throwing around the idea of buying back my 77 Scout and juicing it up. I've decided to reserve the 06 Tacoma DC Longbed 4x4 for daily driving, towing and mild off-roading in the dirt and the dunes.

That being said, I am leaning heavily towards the Fabtech 6" lift. So for all you guys who are running it, I have a few questions :

1) I know 35's rub when you hit a bump while turning. Is it rubbing like "oh whoops my tire rubbed " or is it rubbing like "Oh my gosh, I left my fender on that rock and I'm half deaf? " I've experienced both before (different truck) and I really want to avoid the latter version.

2) I used to be freaked out about "cutting the crossmember" but then I thought "who cares?" The Fabtech lift basically replaces it anyway, doesn't it? I'm going to keep this truck for a decade so I'm not planning on returning it to stock to sell it. Did cutting the crossmember really compromise the structural integrity of your truck?

3) How does it handle, really? A lot of posts say "it's great" or "it rides fine." I want to know for real if it feels stiff or splashy? Does it roll a lot going into turns? Would you say it handles better or worse? Can you still stop with your 35's? If you upgraded your brakes, what brand?

4) Any post-installation adjustments after a few thousand miles? Any problems or breakage of any kind?

5) Finally, what about 4WD? Does it bind when the suspension is flexing or does the sub-frame correct the angles? Can I off-road like I do now with the confidence that I’m not pushing the CV joints too hard?

Please be honest. I notice guys tend to play down problems because they don't want to look like they made a foolish purchase. But as a repeat Tacoma buyer, I trust that you will give me the real scoop.

Thanks , I look forward to the responses.

[Jetes03tundra]

Originally Posted by MattyG

I originally wanted the long travel kit by Camburg or TC, but my mom is giving me her 97 TJ at the end of the year so I think I will make that my crawler. (Can't wait for the comments on this) I'm also throwing around the idea of buying back my 77 Scout and juicing it up. I've decided to reserve the 06 Tacoma DC Longbed 4x4 for daily driving, towing and mild off-roading in the dirt and the dunes.

That being said, I am leaning heavily towards the Fabtech 6" lift. So for all you guys who are running it, I have a few questions :

1) I know 35's rub when you hit a bump while turning. Is it rubbing like "oh whoops my tire rubbed " or is it rubbing like "Oh my gosh, I left my fender on that rock and I'm half deaf? " I've experienced both before (different truck) and I really want to avoid the latter version.

2) I used to be freaked out about "cutting the crossmember" but then I thought "who cares?" The Fabtech lift basically replaces it anyway, doesn't it? I'm going to keep this truck for a decade so I'm not planning on returning it to stock to sell it. Did cutting the crossmember really compromise the structural integrity of your truck?

3) How does it handle, really? A lot of posts say "it's great" or "it rides fine." I want to know for real if it feels stiff or splashy? Does it roll a lot going into turns? Would you say it handles better or worse? Can you still stop with your 35's? If you upgraded your brakes, what brand?

4) Any post-installation adjustments after a few thousand miles? Any problems or breakage of any kind?

5) Finally, what about 4WD? Does it bind when the suspension is flexing or does the sub-frame correct the angles? Can I off-road like I do now with the confidence that I’m not pushing the CV joints too hard?

Please be honest. I notice guys tend to play down problems because they don't want to look like they made a foolish purchase. But as a repeat Tacoma buyer, I trust that you will give me the real scoop.

Thanks , I look forward to the responses.

i cant help you answer those 5 questions since i havent used it or have a tacoma, BUT with the 35's you want you will need to regear definitely or that tacoma will suck down the gas and be a dog to get going. The thing is, no gear manufacturers are currently making new gears for the 05+ tacomas yet! if i were you id stay around 2-3" of lift and 32's or 33's to avoid having this problem....but thats just my .02 trying to help ya!

[MattyG]

Hmmm, well hopefully one of the guys who has the kit can answer the questions I have.

I really appreciate your perspective though. I had forgotten about the gearing problem because I had assumed the kit users had already re-geared. I swear there are so many unfulfilled needs for 05+ Tacoma owners that it makes me want to open up a machine shop. This was the problem with my 99. By the time there was a decent inventory of reliable afteremarket kits, I already had 200K miles on it and upgraded to the 4x4 DC. I could list ten things off the top of my head that I would buy for the Taco if only someone made it.

1) A decently priced Surfboard Rack: The thule one is $600! As much as a tonneau cover!
2) A 5" Suspension that Improves handling but doesn't require flared fenders.
3) A way to get rid of that stupid green headlight indicator and change the color of the gear indicator from green to red.
4) A custom bumper that doesn't look like it weighs 600lbs
5) A freaking rear disk brake conversion kit!
6) A larger disk brake upgrade up front.
7) Lower Gears.
8) Some power boosting mods like a reasonably priced turbo or intake manifold. 50-state of course.
9) A bed light (Toyota needs to figure this one out man. Just put a downlight for the bed. I'd pay and extra $80 for the truck, I swear)
10) OK so maybe 9 things, but I can't tell you how many sweet a%* Titans I see on the road with a monster lift that looks spectacular. Are Tacoma owners just to conservative for the good mods?

Come on vendors!! I'll show you the money!

[Jetes03tundra]

Originally Posted by MattyG

Hmmm, well hopefully one of the guys who has the kit can answer the questions I have.

I really appreciate your perspective though. I had forgotten about the gearing problem because I had assumed the kit users had already re-geared. I swear there are so many unfulfilled needs for 05+ Tacoma owners that it makes me want to open up a machine shop. This was the problem with my 99. By the time there was a decent inventory of reliable afteremarket kits, I already had 200K miles on it and upgraded to the 4x4 DC. I could list ten things off the top of my head that I would buy for the Taco if only someone made it.

1) A decently priced Surfboard Rack: The thule one is $600! As much as a tonneau cover!
2) A 5" Suspension that Improves handling but doesn't require flared fenders.
3) A way to get rid of that stupid green headlight indicator and change the color of the gear indicator from green to red.
4) A custom bumper that doesn't look like it weighs 600lbs
5) A freaking rear disk brake conversion kit!
6) A larger disk brake upgrade up front.
7) Lower Gears.
8) Some power boosting mods like a reasonably priced turbo or intake manifold. 50-state of course.
9) A bed light (Toyota needs to figure this one out man. Just put a downlight for the bed. I'd pay and extra $80 for the truck, I swear)
10) OK so maybe 9 things, but I can't tell you how many sweet a%* Titans I see on the road with a monster lift that looks spectacular. Are Tacoma owners just to conservative for the good mods?

Come on vendors!! I'll show you the money!

ive read though a few of the gear manufacturers are already working on gears for the newer tacomas.....but i dont remember how long it was going to be, 4-6 months sticks in my head...

[thejmeister]

I'm with Matty G, ive got an 07 taco and i want to get either the fabtech or procomp 6 in lift but i cant get a clear answer from anyone about how the ride is
ps. ahmen about the cargo light

[MattyG]

Right on J. I'm noticing that this thread is not exactly generating a huge amount of replies. Either I touched a nerve with the Fabtech guys or there just aren't that many of them out there.

It's a simple question: Is your truck better off than it was without the Fabtech lift?

[Jetes03tundra]

Originally Posted by MattyG

Right on J. I'm noticing that this thread is not exactly generating a huge amount of replies. Either I touched a nerve with the Fabtech guys or there just aren't that many of them out there.

It's a simple question: Is your truck better off than it was without the Fabtech lift?

here this will get you answers. go to Toyota Territory Off-Roaders Association (TTORA) and post/SEARCH on it and you will find good info. But search on there first or they will flame you hardcore! i know theres info over there for you!

[MattyG]

Thanks Jetes03. I had no idea about the TTORA forum. There was a lot of good info on there and don't worry, I didn't post a question. You are right about those guys being brutal.

Jeez, now I'm going back on wanting a Fabtech lift. All the talk about the bearings getting worn out and the lack of available gearing made me reconsider.

Maybe I should just get a 3" lift that clears 33's and be done with it. I just can't imagine sticking a spacer atop my front coils. That has to mess something up!!

Or maybe I should just get some UCA's. Decisions, decisions!

[Jetes03tundra]

Originally Posted by MattyG

Thanks Jetes03. I had no idea about the TTORA forum. There was a lot of good info on there and don't worry, I didn't post a question. You are right about those guys being brutal.

Jeez, now I'm going back on wanting a Fabtech lift. All the talk about the bearings getting worn out and the lack of available gearing made me reconsider.

Maybe I should just get a 3" lift that clears 33's and be done with it. I just can't imagine sticking a spacer atop my front coils. That has to mess something up!!

Or maybe I should just get some UCA's. Decisions, decisions!

you can go from 2.5" spacer kits (toytec, tuff country, revtek, etc) and an add a leaf in the rear (go aal, dont get blocks...i had them now switching out with the wheelers aal). All the way to Saw's, Camburg's, Donahoes which are the adjustable coilovers. With coilovers there is no need really to get UCA's unless you are really venture off road and need the travel.

[DevinSixtySeven]

Fabtech might still be a dirty word around here, since BITD they produced less-than-spectacular parts for Tundras.

Yeah, definately search TTORA...there are some great people there, with some great information, but you gotta search or you'll never find it. Half of TTORA are pirates, the other half are cabin boys and don't know it.

#3 and #5 of your original questions are general tech, they apply to any vehicle.

Check out this paper on braking dynamics from Stoptech (the guys who make big brake kits): link (PDF file)

Vertical position of the CG does affect braking performance. The same stuff they describe there about weight shift from the rear to front axle also happens when you corner and your body+frame CG is 6" higher. Basically, it won't handle as well...period. All the "but it handles find for meeee!" responses still must abide by basic physics...and their truck will tap out in a high speed manuever before a stock height vehicle. Maybe all those people drive like Q-tips, or maybe they never drive in heavy stop/go/mixed traffic where they need to make sudden steering or braking maneuvers, I don't know.

The subframe corrects the angles, have no fear. Just keep in mind that raising the ride height doesn't impart performance unless you've increased the available travel at the same time--a lift and nothing more actually diminishes your performance since you can't corner, slalom, brake or tilt like a stock height truck, and if you can't flex all the way, your travel is less than stock.

Decide if you want to deal with everything above, then worry about the details of how to build a tall truck.

FWIW 33s are a great size for medium to moderately difficult trails on a Tundra and an 05+ Tacoma...they are about the same size truck.

The rest of your questions #1-#10:

#1 & #4 Talk to Demello or Bentup. I forget which is in Cali, or maybe they both are. Anyway, talk to your local 4x4 shop! Have them build you a bumper and a rack .

#2 Not gonna happen. How many lifted sports cars you see (outside of trailer parks)? You make it tall, it flops easier. You want it like stock, it gets wider, and then you get wider flares. Show me a kit that claims to do what you want and I'll show you a salesman who flunked physics. If you don't have one already, get a rear swaybar...that will help...but don't lift it. Just find a way to shoehorn a larger tire under there.

#3 LEDs . Local el shop oughtta have them, and there are a ton of aftermarket retailers online. Start with roundeyes.com and look around.

#5 and #6 Start by talking to Stoptech. Also SOS Performance, they made the kit for the pre07 Tundra. Maybe they'd do one for an 05+ Taco.

#9 Start at roundeyes.com, see what you can come up with .

#10 A bromobile is not a good mod at all, for anything, except cruising the mall, where you're not required to expose the weaknesses in that kind of build. If you have a tall truck, it's either because you play in the mud, you never really go offroad, or you live in Hawaii or PR (their offroading is completely different and involves a lot of sand and water).

Definately talk to your local 4x4 shop! And I mean specifically a fabrication shop, not a bolt-on bro-builder like 4WPW, find somebody like Demello or Bentup and talk to them about what you want for the truck. They've done some excellent work for people here in the past, and I know Demello at least is in California...Bentup may be as well.

Hope that helps...post up when you get it sorted, there are a lot of guys with 05+ Tacos wanting similar things. Drop in the Taco forum here.

-Sean

*edit* oh and build the Scout . That's the one with the V8, right? That would kick a5s...

[MattyG]

Thanks Devin. I really appreciate you taking the time to walk me through this. I have been getting so frustrated with all of the options that I was actually tossing around the idea of selling my truck!

Whether you meant to or not I think you talked me out of the 6" lift. And I will take your suggestion about 33's to heart. I'd rather have a capable truck with minimal headaches. I thought Fabtech would provide that, but the more I think about the CG and how much city driving I do in traffic, the less appealing it is.

I'll go back and research the differences between coilovers with spacers vs. UCA's. They are both a lot less expensive than what I was looking to spend on the Fabtech lift so I'm more concerned about on-road driveablity, and off-road reliability. There are a million posts on it, so I'll search, but if you want to give me your two cents, I'll listen. I'll also take your advice and maybe swing by 4X Doctor in Burbank. They did the shackle reversal on my Scout and seemed knowledgeable.

You would love the scout. I put everything in it myself including the 350 crate motor. It was a 2WD when I found it and I did the whole conversion to 4WD. I sold it while I was in the Army but I want it back! It's rotting in my buddy's garage in Colorado and that's a long way to haul a truck.

I'll go through the rest of your comments as well. Thanks again. Thanks to Jetes too!!

[DevinSixtySeven]

With 33s, uniball UCAs and a longer coilover, your truck will be hard to stop on the trail, and handle way better on and offroad than anything with a 6" lift . As a bonus, if you were to only adjust the front ride height so it's a hair below level (so the lights don't go high when you carry a load), you don't need to do anything to the rear of the truck.

I'm not familiar with the wheel wells on your truck, but from a few posts in the Tacoma forum here, it sounds like you can mod your pinch weld to clear the 33s, but not 35s...something about hitting the body mount. Ask an 05+ Taco guy about that...matter of fact, look up Tacodoc (or it might still be 05Tacodoc), he'll have a pretty good idea as far as modifications for the trail that are specific to your truck.

Look in the Tundra Offroad FAQ, there's a section about coilovers and spacers that applies to any vehicle. Matter of fact, most of the stuff in that FAQ applies to any vehicle.

Colorado...heh...I'm in Denver. Where's the Scout? You're right, it sounds like a great ride with a lot of blood, sweat and beers to its name. If you do make it out here to recover it, drop in and say hi. I gotta see this thing

-Sean

[MattyG]

Devin, I just PM'd you with another question but disregard my questions about the headlights. I just figured it out.

Thanks